Copy after Perino del Vaga's Compositional Study for "The Death of the 10,000 Martyrs" c. 16th century

Editor: This drawing, attributed to Giorgio Vasari, is a copy after Perino del Vaga's composition for "The Death of the 10,000 Martyrs." It's a whirlwind of bodies, rendered in pen and ink. What historical narratives do you see at play here? Curator: I see a clear depiction of power and violence against a religious minority. This work exists within a long history of similar depictions used to justify oppression. Do you consider how Vasari, himself a figure of authority, might have been complicit in this dynamic? Editor: That's a chilling point. I hadn't considered Vasari's own social positioning in relation to the subject matter. Curator: Exactly. This piece demands we examine not only the depicted violence, but also the power structures inherent in its creation and reception. Editor: I'll definitely look at it differently now.